Improvement in sewing-machine tables



HENRY OOWGILL, OE FREDONIA, DELAWARE, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN H. O. COWGILL, DEOEASED.

Letters Patent No. 97,481, lated December 7, 1869.

v--meQr--g IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINE TABLES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concernr Be it known that JOHN H. G. GWGILL, now deceased, late of Fredonia, in the county of Kent, and State of Delaware, did in his lifetime invent certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is-a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had' to the accompanying drawings, which makev part of this specification. The object of the invention is to bring the. sewingmachine into such` an improved position relative to the operator as to relieve the operator from the cram ped and uncomfortable position now occupied in working sewing-machines, and attended with such injurious` effects upon the system and health.

The invention, to this end, consists- -First, in mounting the machine upon an inclined support, or at an angle tothe table, instead of having it rest flat, as is now the case.

A Second, in making the machine adjustable to a greater or less inclination or angle, as may he de sired.

Third, in making the slippers adjustable toward or from the" operator.

Fourth, in combining the inclined adjustable table with the adjustable slippers.

The top'of thetable is hinged to the frame, at its front edge, and provided with means by which it may be raisedor lowered, and heldat any inclination desired, in substantially the manner used with'thc lids of pianos, it being only necessary to make the supports firm enough to prevent undue vibration from the motion of the machinery.

Where it is preferred, for convenience', tohave a part of the table llat, or in applying this invention to tables already Iliade in the usual way, a false top, A, may be hinged to or simply mounted `upon the front of the table B, vand be provided' with inclined supports, C C, either adjustable as above mentioned, or fixed at the desired inclination.'

The machine is attached (as usual with flat tables) to this'movablc or fixedA inclined top A, and works smoothly, and without any unequal wear from its being thus tilted. A

The operator can sit upright, or even leali back, and yet thus have the work and the working-parts of the. machine, the needle, thetension, and the feedplate, &c., all under the same control, and in as favorable view, and as easy reach as when stooping over a flat table, while the different position thus occupied relieves the back, the shoulders, the chest, and the .abdomen from .the-'stooping, and the compression, and the constant fatigues and injurious effects that are attendant upon the position heretofore necessarily occupied `in operating these machines.

This adj ustability requires, of course, that the driv.- ing-band should be capable of being lengthened or shortened as the machine is raised or lowered, but this is easily done by a simple provision of flat hooks and eyes, or grommets, or other like obvious means.

A short section of the hand may be made removablc, instead of having the endsoverlap, or different bands may be used for different positions.v

As the elevation of the machine raises the work, and necessitates a higher position for the hands and arms in managing it, an arm-suppmter or rest,l D, is secured to the table at each sidefof the machine, and projects toward the operator, whose arms arc thereby supported comfortably.

These rests may be hinged, and raised or lowered as desired, and adjusted by set-scrc\\fs,jd, and may he folded over upon the table, and out of the way, when the machine is not in `use.

Dilferent operators, using the same machine, or the same operator desiring vteoccupv different positions at different times, can raise or lower the machine at pleasure, to suit,7and can still, at any time, use it in its ordinary horizontal position.

I t is found desirable, that in connection with this change of position in the machine, the slipper-bar should be conformably adapted, by a change of its position, as well to secure a more natural relation be tween it and the table, as to relieve the ankle and the muscles of the limbs, and afford a like choice or change of their position.

Two arms or brackets, E, are pivoted on the legs F F, or side-pieces of the table, andv depend below the usual level of the slipper-bar G, swinging freely on their pivots, from a perpendicular, forward lor backward. The slipper-har is secured in these brackets.

In or upon each foot of the table, below the lineof the slipper-bar, but a little above the lower end of the swingingarms, a c`urved guide, H, is provided, the are of the curve corresponding with the movement of the slipper-bar.

A set-screw, h., passes through the swinging arm E, and fits in this groove, in which it travels, o'r is fixed, as may be desired.

By loosening the set-screws,the slipper-bar may be moved forward or backward under the table in these guides, and when at the proper or desired point, fastened in position by again turning the set-screws', and the slippers thus adjusted, to conform to the position of the body, or to the different length of limb of different operators.

It is .not intended to confine the invention herein claimed to the details of construction; but

What is claimed as the invention of the said J OHN Ill. C. COWGILL, i's--J sind (tithe.

1. The combination, with a sewing-machine, of an inclined table or support, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2, The combination, with sewing-machine, oi' a table or support', that is'uiovable or adjustable to any inclination desired, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with a sewing-machine, of an inc-linedvtop or support, and rests for the arms of the operator, substantially as and for the purpose described. v

4.- Tbe combination, with a sewing-machine, of an 

